Warming Up Your Car Faster: Tips, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Warming up your ride is a must. Not only is it essential in achieving the ideal air-fuel ratio but it also ensures your daily driver can perform well and remain comfortable for you, especially in cold weather conditions.

Whether you rely on your vehicle for everyday transportation or just for the occasional errands and out-of-town trips, waiting for it to reach the optimal temperature can’t come soon enough.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: You should always completely warm the engine every time you start it rather than starting it and shutting it off cold. This causes heavy sludge to form in the engine and can eventually destroy it.

How to Warm Your Car Up Faster

There are several ways to warm up your car faster, from using synthetic oil designed to withstand cold weather to parking indoors or under the sun.

Start the Car Earlier

The cold temperature during the winter means it’ll take more time than usual to warm up your car. If you’re in a hurry, you can avoid that waiting period by letting your ride run a few minutes before driving.

How fast the vehicle warms up while idling depends on how cold the temperature is. If it’s freezing outside, you can start the car while you’re getting ready to head out.

But don’t let your vehicle idle for too long. Extensive idle times can cause unnecessary wear on parts and waste fuel.

Hold the Engine Speed Up for 3 Minutes

Automobile technicians are told in service literature to hold the engine speed above idle (1500 rpm) looking at the tach for 2 to 3 minutes to bring the engine to operating temperature. This works well and doesn’t hurt the engine, or service engineers wouldn’t write shop manual procedures calling for this to be done to warm the engine.

Automobile technicians are told in service literature to hold the engine speed above idle (1500 rpm) looking at the tach for 2 to 3 minutes to bring the engine to operating temperature. This works well and doesn’t hurt the engine, or service engineers wouldn’t write shop manual procedures calling for this to be done to warm the engine.

–Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Use a Space Heater

Like your engine, you’ll also have a hard time when it’s cold in the cabin. Why endure uncomfortable temperatures when you can take measures to warm up the space?

Space heaters for cars work the same way as regular heaters, but they’re more portable and you can plug them into the cigarette lighter. They won’t warm up the engine, but they help make the cabin more comfortable and toasty for you. You could get one for as low as $10.

Keep the Door Closed

Turning the heater on and closing the door traps warm air inside and prevents the cold outdoor air from entering. Doing so would speed up the warming process.

The best way to do this is by turning the car on to warm up the engine, then shutting the door and turning the heater on.

Park Under the Sun

If it’s a sunny winter day, take advantage of the sunlight. Park under the sun to keep the engine and car naturally warmed up, decreasing the time it takes to rev up your vehicle.

Note that this tip works best if it’s not windy or snowy, as the precipitation can lower your ride’s temperature faster than the sunlight can warm it up.

Park Inside the Garage

Parking inside the garage will keep your car warm is also a great strategy. Parking indoors will help your ride maintain the ideal temperature, protecting it from wind, snow, and ice.

If you’re not on a tight budget, consider installing a heater in your garage to keep your vehicle warm.

Drive

Driving for five to ten minutes will warm your car up faster than idling, as it will get your car parts working and generating natural heat.

Benefits of Warming Up Your Car

Warming up your car before driving has its advantages. After all, a properly warmed vehicle circulates oil well, prevents foggy windshields, and keeps everyone aboard comfortable.

Circulates Oil

Oil thickens at lower temperatures, making it difficult for the fluid to circulate, lubricate the bearings, and cool the engine down. Properly warming up your vehicle ensures it runs efficiently.

Lubricating the engine parts minimizes power loss and ensures the engine burns fuel more efficiently. It also reduces friction, prolonging the lifespan of the lubricated components because they won’t have much resistance when moving.

Defogs the Windshield

Extremely cold temperatures can fog up windshields, limiting visibility and making driving risky.

The condensation forms when the moisture in the cabin (from the snow you tracked in, damp clothes, the air you exhale, etc.) hits the windshield when it’s under a specific temperature.

Properly warming the vehicle would help prevent this.

Keeps the Cabin Warm

As far as comfort goes, driving while the cabin is cold is uncomfortable. Thankfully, warming up your car helps you achieve the ideal temperature inside the cabin. It also keeps everyone inside cozy, making for a more pleasant drive.

Disadvantages of Warming Up Your Car

Some of the drawbacks of warming up your car for extended periods include damaging components, causing misfires, contributing to pollution, and decreasing fuel economy.

Damage to Components

Prolonged periods of idling to warm up the vehicle could damage components, including the exhaust system, spark plugs, and cylinder walls.

Modern cars have electronic fuel injections that send the appropriate amount of fuel to the engine to maximize efficiency. This means letting a cold engine idle for a long time increases the risk of built-up fuel residue, leading to poor engine performance.

Potential Misfires

Misfires occur when one or more cylinders don’t produce enough power. They could also stem from faulty spark plugs, resulting from built-up carbon deposits caused by prolonged idling or warming up. This occurs because the more a car is warmed up, the more carbon it releases.

Added Pollution

Warming up the car produces carbon monoxide (CO), a harmful chemical that contributes to global warming and is dangerous to your health. It’s often because the engine is still cold and inefficient, which prompts it to release unburned hydrocarbons.

The emissions are also why it’s better to warm your car outside the garage, reducing the CO entering your house through the garage.

Poor Fuel Economy

Idling uses half a gallon of fuel per hour. This builds up over time the longer you warm your vehicle up by idling. The accumulated fuel loss will cost you money every week because you’re refilling more often than usual.

How Long Should You Let Your Car Warm Up?

Under normal circumstances, you should only warm your car up the same time it takes to put your seatbelts on. Prolonging the process could harm your engine and expose you to the ill effects listed above.